Haiti earthquake: US sends 4,000 more troops

The US has redeployed 4,000 more soldiers and marines to join the relief effort following the Haiti earthquake.

A young boy sits between two US Soldiers from the 82nd Airborn that are providing security for the hospital in Port au Prince  Photo: EP

A young boy sits between two US Soldiers from the 82nd Airborn that are providing security for the hospital in Port au Prince Photo: EP

Among the forces being sent to Haiti is the the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which was due to embark on a tour of the Mediterranean and Europe but will now join the 12,000 American men and women already engaged in bringing help and security to the beleaguered country.

On Wednesday, marines in landing craft brought ashore temporary shelters, food and water, bulldozers, mechanical diggers and trucks on a beach west of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, from warships anchored offshore.

The US hospital ship Comfort also arrived in Haitian waters.

The United Nations is meanwhile adding 2,000 soldiers and 1,500 police officers to its 9,000-member peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

Sensitive to the impression the US is taking too forceful a role, President Barack Obama said on Wednesday night the White House was being “very careful” to work with the Haitian government and the UN.

“I want to make sure that when America projects its power around the world, it’s not seen only when it’s fighting a war,” Mr Obama told ABC News.

“It’s got to also be able to help people in desperate need. And ultimately that will be good for us. That will be good for our national security over the long term.”

While an 11-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy were pulled from the rubble of their homes in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday, the search for survivors of the Jan 12 earthquake of 7.1 magnitude has started to wind down with every passing day making itmore unlikely that further trapped survicors will be found.

International efforts are now being concentrated on humanitarian relief and security.

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